Re: [CR]Curved crank sets...Why

(Example: Books:Ron Kitching)

Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 12:09:11 -0400
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Curved crank sets...Why
In-Reply-To: <75d04b480606300846v7f4314d5qd549ce5632f9909c@mail.gmail.com>
References: <20060630143027.1352.qmail@web52510.mail.yahoo.com> <000e01c69c49$b3a134f0$e453ff44@ts>


At 08:46 AM 6/30/06 -0700, Kurt Sperry wrote:
>Curved crank arms have no engineering merit, but the reactions here show
>they potentially have marketing merit.

Old iron hand wheels and flywheels on old machinery had s-shaped spokes, probably to releive stresses and help with shock absorbtion. Old meat grinders had s-shaped cranks. Perhaps these curved cranks gave the impression of being "high tech" at the time. Also, it would seem that the curved section might help keep pant cuffs from being caught in the chain.

-john